ELECTRICITY
for kitchens & baths
Electricity
Amber
Electricity
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We know that electricity behaves in a
consistent predictable manner, in given
situations, but electricity has never
clearly been defined.
Atoms –neutrons, protons and electrons
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Atoms are neutrally charged
Most of the weight of an atom is found in the
protons and neutrons.
Protons are more or less attached to the
nucleus
Electrons revolve around the nucleus like
planets revolve around the sun
Electricity
Atom
Electricity
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Some electrons, particularly in
metals are loosely bound and can
detach and become “free electrons”
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Free electrons as the name implies
can move freely from atom to atom
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When a force or pressure is applied
free electrons begin to move
Electricity
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The materials that allow this
movement are called
CONDUCTORS
The three metals that make the best
conductors:
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Silver
Copper
Aluminum
Electricity
Copper Atom
Electricity
Silver atom
Electricity
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Insulators or Non Conductors:
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Dry Wood
Glass
Rubber
Mica
Asbestos
Semi-Conductors:
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Silicon
Electricity
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Electrical energy is transferred
through conductors by means of
movement of free electrons
A material’s ability to conduct
current flow determines whether it
is a good or bad conductor
Electricity
Terms
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Voltage
Amperage (current)
Resistance (Ohms)
Wattage (power)
Electricity
voltage
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Current that flows
through electrical
conductors is
directly proportional
to the difference in
potential
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Current is directly
proportional to the
amount of voltage
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Voltage increases –
current increases
Electricity
voltage
Six Methods of Producing Voltage
 Friction – Static electricity
 Pressure – Compression of crystals
 Heating – In copper, electrons move
away from the heat. In iron they move to
the heat.
 Light – Photoelectric cells
 Chemical Action - Batteries
 Magnetism
Electricity
charge
What is Charge?
The stuff inside conductors
It’s the free electrons
How do we measure charge?
1 Coulomb = 6.28 x 1018 electrons
6,280,000,000,000,000,000
Ampere = 1 coulomb of charge flow per
second
Electricity
charge
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copper wire
The copper wire is
full of “charged
stuff” but there is
no movement
Electricity
charge
battery
-
+
+
-
battery
Electricity
charge
The battery drives the ring of charge into
motion, the charge moves along like a
drive belt, and the light bulb filament
“rubs” against the moving charge which
makes it glow white hot.
Electricity
charge
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The higher the amperage the faster charge
stuff moves
The more charge stuff that flows (though a
larger wire) the higher the amperage
A fast flow through a narrow wire can have
the same amps as a slow flow of charge
through a larger wire.
If you keep the speed constant and increase
the size of the wire you also increase the
amperage
Electricity
watts
Watts is the name given to electrical flow – but
what flows?
Energy
Energy is measures in joules
A joule of electrical energy can move from
place to place along the wires.
The amount of energy that flows in one second
is one watt
Electricity
btu’s
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BTU short for British thermal unit, a British standard
unit of energy. One Btu is equal to the amount of
heat required to raise the temperature of one pound
of liquid water by 1 degree Fahrenheit at its
maximum density, which occurs at a temperature of
39.1 degrees Fahrenheit. One Btu is equal to
approximately 251.9 calories or 1055 joules.
As a rough guide, 1 joule is the absolute minimum
amount of energy required (on the surface of Earth)
to lift a one kilogram object up by a height of 10
centimeters.
Electricity
closed circuits
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A closed loop of wire is not necessarily a
circuit unless voltage is present.
In any electric circuit where electrons move
around, three things are present:
 Voltage
 Current
 Resistance
Electricity
closed circuits
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The physical pathway for current flow is the
circuit
The circuits resistance controls the amount
of current flow around the circuit.
By knowing any two of the three quantities,
the third can be calculated.
Electricity
watts
Watts is the name given to electrical flow – but
what flows?
Energy
Energy is measures in joules
A joule of electrical energy can move from
place to place along the wires.
The amount of energy that flows in one second
is one watt
Electricity
watts
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Power pertains to the rate at which work is
being done.
Work is done whenever a force causes
motion
i.e. when voltage causes electrons to move
in a circuit work is done
The rate at which this work is done is called
the electric power rate and is measured in
WATTS
Electricity
power
watts
Watts = the amount of voltage across a circuit
x the current through the circuit
or
Watts = Volts x Amperes
or
P= EI
Resistance
Another helpful formula
V = Voltage
A = Amperage
O = Ohms (resistance)
V=AxO
or
A = V/O
Calculator
Electricity
power
watts
15amp circuit *120volts =1800watts
100watt bulb*10 =1000watts
Electricity
What you
need to remember
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Voltage – The force that moves electrons in
a conductor. Electrical pressure
Amperage – The rate of flow of electrical
current.
Watts – The measure of the amount of
electrical power.
Watts = Volts X Amps
Kitchen Electricity Circuits
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Four types of circuits for the Kitchen
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General Lighting
Small Appliance
Individual Appliance
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
Electricity Circuits
General Lighting Circuits – rules of thumb
 One 15 amp circuit per 600 square feet
12 receptacles for a 15-amp circuit
o One 20 amp circuit per 800 square feet
16 receptacles for a 20-amp circuit
Note: Lights in kitchens and baths must be
permanently wired.
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Kitchen Electricity Circuits
Receptacle Circuits – Rule of thumb
 12 receptacles for a 15-amp circuit
 16 receptacle for a 20-amp circuit
 Small appliance circuits
 Two 20-amp circuits
 One or more 20-amp circuits in the dining
room or family room
 These circuits may not be used for
lighting
Electricity
circuits
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Individual Appliance Circuits are
dedicated to devices that draw enough
current to warrant their own circuit.
Electricity
circuits
Appliance
Voltage
Breaker Capacity Amps
Garbage Disposer
120
20
Electric Range/Cooktop
Gas Range/Cooktop
Dishwasher
Electric Tankless
Hot Water
Refrigerator
Microwave Oven
Exhaust Fan
240
120
120
50
20
20
240
120
120
120
30
20
20
20
Electricity
circuits
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Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters are required for
receptacles within 6 feet of a water source, such as
a faucet or showerhead.
Most receptacles mounted above a kitchen
countertop or bath lavatory fall into that category.
Receptacles that serve countertops must be spaced
4’ apart
For Universal Design place receptacles serving
countertop spaces lower than 44” AFF.
Electricity
Wiring
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Island receptacles no more than 12”
below the countertop surface.
Smoke detectors at least 12’ from
kitchen
Electricity
Wiring
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Kitchen
Kitchen Wiring
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Dedicated circuit for the dishwasher
Dedicated circuit for the disposer
Dedicated circuit for built-in microwaves
At least two 20 amp dedicated small appliance circuits for
the outlets serving the countertops
All outlets serving the countertop surface to be GFCI
protected
Dedicated range/cooktop/oven circuits
Lighting Circuit
General receptacles for the room 6’ from the doorway and
then every 12’
Electricity
Wiring
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Bath
All Receptacles on dedicated circuit (GFCI)
One Receptacle installed within 36” of the
sink (GFCI)
No receptacles placed within the tub or
shower space.
No switches can be located within reach of a
person standing in the tub or shower, unless
part of a listed tub or shower assembly
Electricity
Wiring
Bath
Special Needs
 Hard wire electric towel warmers or
lighted or lighted magnifying mirrors
 Individual circuits for electrical
resistance heaters and electric floor heat
 Wiring for ceiling heaters and ventilation
systems
 Individual circuit for spas, whirlpools,
steam showers, some toilets and bidets
 Hard wire anti-fog mirrors behind glass
 Cloths washer/dryer
Electricity
Outdated Wiring
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The house is over 30 years old
A fuse box
100 Amp breaker panel
Ungrounded
Aluminum wire
Electricity
Outdated Wiring
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GFCI’s are not present
Lights flicker when appliances cycle
Fuses blow
Too few switches and receptacles or lights
present
Extension cords must be used
Electricity
wire types
Electricity
Wiring Size
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15 Amp Circuit – 14 gauge
20 Amp Circuit – 12 gauge
30 Amp Circuit – 10 gauge
40 Amp Circuit – 8 gauge
50 Amp Circuit – 6 gauge
Electricity
wire
Electricity
circuits
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Adding Circuits to the Breaker
Panel
Consult your
electrician
Electrical Codes
Codes for Kitchens
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Countertop receptacles every 4’-0”
24
48
48
24
Codes for Kitchens
Sinks, stoves, & cooktops
act divide countertops
27
27
54
36
54
Plug Strips
Codes for Kitchens
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Receptacles no higher than 20” above
countertop
Receptacles no more than 12” below
countertop
Codes for Kitchens
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Islands must be served by at least one
receptacle
96
Codes for Kitchens
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Peninsulas are measured from the connecting edge
48
48
24
48
Power Grommet
Codes for Kitchens
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Receptacles serving countertops must be on
2 dedicated 20amp circuits and must be
GFCI protected.
They must also serve the dining room and
pantry if applicable.
Lighting may not be included in these
circuits
Codes for Baths
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At least one receptacle within 3’-0” of the
outside edge of each basin
Vertical location same as kitchen
This receptacle cannot be inside a medicine
cabinet
Receptacle must be powered by a 20 amp circuit
with no other outlets. May serve two bathrooms
and may power an exhaust fan and lighting
provided it does not exceed the load max.
Must be GFCI protected
Codes for Baths
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No receptacles over a bathtub or
inside a shower stall.
Electrical Symbols
Electricity
outlet symbols
SINGL E R EC EP T A C L E O UT L ET
SINGL E R EC EP T A C L E O UT L ET
Electricity
outlet symbols
D UP L EX R EC EPT A C L E O UT L ET
SP L IT - C IR C UIT
WP
WEA T HER PR O O F
R EC EP T A C L E
O UT L ET
Electricity
symbols
EL EC T R IC R A NGE/
C O O K T O P O UT L E T
Electricity
outlet symbols
FL O O R SING L E
R EC EP T A C L E
O UT L ET
FL O O R D O UB L E
R EC EP T A C L E
O UT L ET
Electricity
outlet symbols
G R O UND FA UL T C IR C UIT
INT ER UP T ER R EC EP T A C L E
O UT L ET
F
G FC I
FA N O UT L ET
Electricity
outlet symbols
SP EC IA L P UR P O SE O UT L ET
WIR ED D IR EC T
DW
HEA T L A MP
Electricity
lighting symbols
WA L L SC O NC E
Electricity
lighting symbols
T R A C K L IG HT ING
Electricity
lighting symbols
HA NG ING C EIL ING FIX T UR E
Electricity
lighting symbols
LO W V O LTA GE
T R A NSFO R M ER
T
L
B UIL T - IN L O W V O L T A GE
T A S K L IG HT
Electricity
lighting symbols
R EC ESS ED C EIL ING
V A P O R L IG HT
Electricity
lighting symbols
T EL EV IS IO N
O UT L ET
TV
CA B LE
O UT L ET
C
Electricity
lighting symbols
B UIL T - IN FL UO R ES C ENT
T A S K L IG HT
Electricity
lighting symbols
R EC ESS ED C EIL ING
D O WN L IG HT ING
Electricity
special purpose symbols
C L O C K HA NG ER
R EC EP T A C L E
C
Electricity
special purpose symbols
FA N
R EC EP T A C L E
T EL EPHO NE O UT L ET
F
INT ER C O M
Electricity
special purpose symbols
T HER MO ST A T
G A S S UP P L Y
G
T
SMO K E D ET EC T O R
Electricity
special purpose symbols
HEA T R EGIS T ER
Electricity
switch symbols
S
Single pole switch
S2
S3
S4
Double pole switch
SD M
Single pole switch w/
dimmer
Three way switch
w/dimmer
S3 D M
Three way switch
Four way switch